Strain relief boot

Abstract

A strain relief boot and fiber optic connectors and modules having strain relief boots are provided. The strain relief boots of the present disclosure are flexible enough to bend when small side loads are applied to the boot and stiff enough to resist bending when large side loads are applied to the boot. In one embodiment, the strain relief boot is constructed of multiple different materials each having different stiffness properties.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of constructing a boot for a fiber optic connector comprising:
 injection molding a first body and a first axial passage extending through the first body from a first material; and   injection molding a second body to the first body from a second material different from the first material, the second body including a second axial passage extending through the second body, wherein the second axial passage is molded in coaxial alignment with the first axial passage;
 wherein the first body includes a first end defining a first end of the boot and a second end opposite the first end; 
 wherein the second body includes a first end over-molded over the second end of the first body and a second end defining a second end of the boot; and 
 wherein the second end of the first body and the first end of the second body connect to each other along an overlap length that extends along a minority of a length of the first body. 
   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second body more flexible than the first body. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second material is softer than the first material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first axial passage and the second axial passage are configured to slidably receive a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first end of the first body includes a retention feature for securing the boot to the fiber optic connector. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the retention feature is a snap-on feature. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the retention feature is a threaded feature. 
     
     
         38 . A fiber optic connector comprising:
 a connector housing including a front end and a rear end;   a ferrule configured to support one or more optical fibers, the ferrule being positioned adjacent the front end of the connector housing; and   a boot including a first boot end and an opposite second boot end, the boot having an axial boot length that extends from the first boot end to the second boot end, the boot including a first molded body defining the first boot end and a second molded body defining the second boot end, the first molded body being secured to the rear end of the connector housing and the second molded body extending rearwardly from the first molded body, the second molded body being molded over the first molded body along an overlap length that extends along a minority of an axial length of the first body, wherein at least a portion of the second molded body is more flexible than the first molded body.   
     
     
         39 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the first and second molded bodies includes circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         40 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 38 , wherein the first end of the boot fits over the rear end of the connector housing. 
     
     
         41 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 38 , wherein the overlap length extends along a minority of an axial length of the second molded body. 
     
     
         42 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 38 , wherein the first end of the boot includes a retention feature for securing the boot to the connector housing. 
     
     
         43 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 42 , wherein the retention feature is a snap-on feature. 
     
     
         44 . A fiber optic connector comprising:
 a connector housing including a front end and a rear end;   a ferrule configured to support one or more optical fibers, the ferrule being positioned adjacent the front end of the connector housing; and   a boot including a first boot end and an opposite second boot end, the boot having an axial boot length that extends from the first boot end to the second boot end, the boot including a first molded body defining the first boot end and a second molded body defining the second boot end, the first molded body being secured to the rear end of the connector housing and the second molded body extending rearwardly from the first molded body, the second molded body being molded over the first molded body along an overlap length that extends along a minority of an axial length of at least one of the first and second bodies, wherein at least a portion of the second molded body is more flexible than the first molded body, and wherein throughout an entirety of the overlap length no portion of the first molded body is exposed at an exterior of the boot.   
     
     
         45 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 44 , wherein the first boot end includes a threaded retention for securing the boot to the rear end of the connector housing. 
     
     
         46 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 44 , wherein the overlap length extends along a minority of an axial length of the second molded body. 
     
     
         47 . The fiber optic connector of  claim 46 , wherein the overlap length extends along a minority of an axial length of the first molded body.